Old/New Testament
27 Don’t brag about tomorrow;
you don’t know what ·may happen then [L the day may bear/ bring forth].
2 Don’t praise yourself. Let ·someone else [another; a stranger] do it.
Let the praise come from a ·stranger [outsider] and not from your own mouth [Jer. 9:23–24; 1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17].
3 Stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
but ·a complaining fool [or the irritation/frustration caused by a fool] is ·heavier [worse] than either.
4 Anger is cruel and destroys like a flood,
but no one can ·put up with [L stand in the face of] jealousy!
5 It is better to correct someone ·openly [publicly]
than to have love and ·not show [hide] it.
6 The ·slap [bruises] of a friend can be trusted to help you,
but the kisses of an enemy are ·nothing but lies [or dangerous; Matt. 26:48–50].
7 When you are ·full [sated], not even honey tastes good,
but when you are hungry, even something bitter tastes sweet.
8 A person who ·leaves [L wanders from] his home
is like a bird that ·leaves [L wanders from] its nest.
9 The sweet smell of perfume and oils is pleasant,
and so is good advice from a friend.
10 Don’t ·forget [abandon] your friend or your parent’s friend.
Don’t always go to your ·family for help [brother] when trouble comes.
A neighbor close by is better than a ·family [brother] far away.
11 Be wise, my child, and make ·me [L my heart] happy.
Then I can respond to any insult.
12 The ·wise [prudent] see ·danger [evil; trouble] ahead and avoid it,
but fools ·keep going [go straight to it] and ·get into trouble [or are punished].
13 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s loan,
and keep it until he pays what the ·stranger [L foreigner] owes.
14 If you loudly ·greet [bless] your neighbor early in the morning,
he will think of it as a curse.
15 A ·quarreling [contentious] wife is as bothersome
as a continual dripping on a rainy day.
16 ·Stopping [Controlling; Restraining] her is like ·stopping [controlling; restraining] the wind
or trying to grab oil in your hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so people ·can improve each other [sharpen their friends].
18 Whoever ·tends [protects] a fig tree gets to eat its fruit,
and whoever ·takes care of [guards] his master will receive honor.
19 As water reflects your face,
so ·your mind shows what kind of person you are [the heart reflects a person].
20 ·People will never stop dying and being destroyed [L Sheol/The grave and Abaddon/Destruction are never satisfied; Job 26:6],
and ·they will never stop wanting more than they have [L the eyes of people will never be satisfied].
21 A ·hot furnace tests silver and gold [crucible for silver and a furnace for gold],
and people ·are tested by the praise they receive [L in the presence of those who praise them].
22 Even if you ground up a foolish person like grain in a bowl,
you couldn’t remove the foolishness.
23 Be sure you know how your sheep are doing,
and ·pay attention to the condition of [L set your heart on] your cattle.
24 ·Riches [Treasure] will not go on forever,
nor ·do governments go on [a crown/diadem] forever.
25 When the grass is gone and the new grass appears,
gather the ·grass [vegetation] from the hills.
26 Make clothes from the lambs’ wool,
and sell some goats ·to buy [L for the price of] a field.
27 There will be plenty of goat’s milk
to feed you and your ·family [L house]
and to make your ·servant [or young] girls healthy.
28 Evil people ·run [flee] ·even though [or when] no one ·is chasing [pursues] them [Lev. 26:17, 36],
but ·good [righteous] people are as ·brave [confident] as a lion.
2 When a country ·is lawless [or rebels; or transgresses], it has ·one ruler after another [or many rulers/leaders];
but when it is led by a ·leader [L person] with understanding, it ·continues strong [or has lasting order].
3 ·Rulers [or Poor people] who ·mistreat [oppress] the poor
are like a hard rain that ·destroys the crops [washes away the food].
4 Those who ·disobey what they have been taught [forsake/abandon instruction/law] praise the wicked,
but those who ·obey what they have been taught [guard instruction/law] ·are against [battle] them.
5 Evil people do not understand justice,
but those who ·follow [seek] the Lord understand ·it completely [or everything].
6 It is better to be poor and ·innocent [walk blamelessly]
than to be rich and ·wicked [L be on crooked paths].
7 Children who ·obey what they have been taught [protect instruction/law] are wise,
but friends of ·troublemakers [or gluttons] disgrace their parents [Deut. 28:18–21].
8 Some people get rich by ·overcharging others [L interest and surcharge; Ex. 22:25; Deut. 23:20],
but their wealth will be given to those who are ·kind [gracious] to the poor.
9 If you ·refuse to obey [turn your ear away from] ·what you have been taught [L hearing instruction],
your prayers will ·not be heard [be detested/an abomination].
10 Those who lead ·good [virtuous] people to ·do wrong [L go on an evil path]
will ·be ruined by their own evil [L fall into their own pit],
but the ·innocent [blameless] will ·be rewarded with [L inherit] good things.
11 Rich people may ·think they are wise [L be wise in their own eyes],
but the poor with understanding will ·prove them wrong [see through them].
12 When ·good [righteous] people ·triumph [or rejoice], there is great happiness,
but when the wicked ·get control [L rise up], everybody hides.
13 If you hide your sins, you will not succeed.
If you confess and ·reject [abandon] them, you will receive ·mercy [compassion].
14 Those who ·are always respectful [or always fear the Lord; L always fear] will be ·happy [blessed],
but those ·who are stubborn [L whose hearts are hard] will get into trouble.
15 A wicked ruler over poor people is
like a ·roaring [growling] lion or a ·charging [prowling] bear [C dangerous or frightening].
16 A ·ruler [prince] without ·wisdom [understanding] will be cruel,
but the one who ·refuses to take [hates] ·dishonest money [unjust gain/profit] will ·rule [or live] a long time.
17 Don’t help those who are ·guilty of [oppressed/burdened by] murder;
let them ·run [flee] ·until they die [L to the pit/grave; Gen. 9:5–6].
18 ·Innocent people [L Those who walk in innocence/blamelessness] will be ·kept safe [saved],
but those who ·are dishonest [twist paths] will ·suddenly be ruined [L fall in one; C perhaps a pit or the grave].
19 Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the ones who ·chase empty dreams instead [L pursue emptiness] will end up poor.
20 A ·truthful [reliable] person will have many blessings,
but those ·eager to get rich [or with get-rich-quick schemes] will be punished.
21 It is not good ·for a judge to take sides [to show favoritism/partiality; L to recognize faces],
but some will ·sin [transgress; do wrong] for only a piece of bread.
22 ·Selfish [Stingy] people are in a hurry to get rich
and do not ·realize [know] they soon will be poor.
23 Those who correct others will later ·be liked [find favor]
more than those who ·give false praise [L have a flattering tongue].
24 Whoever robs father or mother
and says, “It’s not ·wrong [a crime],”
is ·just like someone who destroys things [or friends with thugs; Ex. 20:12].
25 A greedy person ·causes trouble [L stirs up conflict],
but the one who trusts the Lord will ·succeed [escape].
26 Those who trust in ·themselves [L their own hearts] are foolish,
but those who ·live wisely [L walk in wisdom] will be ·kept safe [or refreshed].
27 Whoever gives to the poor will ·have everything he needs [L lack nothing],
but the one who ·ignores [turns a blind eye to] the poor will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked ·get control [rise up], everybody hides,
but when they ·die [are destroyed], ·good [righteous] people ·do well [or multiply; increase].
29 Whoever is ·stubborn [L stiff-necked] after being corrected many times
will suddenly be ·hurt [broken] beyond ·cure [healing].
2 When ·good [righteous] people ·do well [or multiply; increase], ·everyone is [L the people are] happy,
but when evil people ·rule [dominate], ·everyone groans [L the people groan/moan].
3 Those who love wisdom make their ·parents [L father] happy,
but friends of prostitutes ·waste their money [destroy riches].
4 If a king is ·fair [just], he makes his country ·strong [stable],
but if he ·takes gifts dishonestly [heavily taxes/extorts it], he tears his country down [1 Sam. 12:10–18].
5 Those who give false praise to their ·neighbors [or friends]
are setting a ·trap for them [trap/net for their feet].
6 Evil people are trapped by their own ·sin [offenses],
but ·good [righteous] people can sing and be happy.
7 ·Good [Righteous] people ·care [know] about ·justice for [the rights of] the poor,
but the wicked ·are not concerned [L do not understand].
8 ·People who make fun of wisdom [Mockers] ·cause trouble in [L inflame] a city,
but wise people ·calm anger down [L turn back anger].
9 When a wise person ·takes a foolish person to court [or debates/disputes a fool],
the fool only shouts or laughs, and there is no ·peace [rest].
10 Murderers hate an ·honest [innocent; blameless] person
and ·try to kill [L seek the life of] ·those who do right [the virtuous].
11 Foolish people ·lose their tempers [or let nothing go unexpressed; L let all their spirit out],
but wise people ·control theirs [quiet things down afterward].
12 If a ruler pays attention to lies,
all ·his officers [those who serve him] will become wicked [Ps. 101:6–8].
13 The poor person and the ·cruel person [oppressor] are alike
in that the Lord gave light to the eyes of both of them.
14 If a king judges poor people ·fairly [in truth; reliably],
his ·government [L throne] will ·continue [be established] forever.
15 Correction and ·punishment [L the rod] make children wise,
but those ·left alone [unsupervised] will disgrace their mother.
16 When there are many wicked people, there is much ·sin [offense],
but ·those who do right [the righteous] will see ·them destroyed [their downfall].
17 ·Correct [Instruct; Discipline] your children, and ·you will be proud [they will give you peace of mind];
they will give you ·satisfaction [delight].
18 Where there is no ·word from God [L vision; prophecy], ·people are uncontrolled [T the people perish],
but those who ·obey what they have been taught [L guard the law] are ·happy [blessed].
19 Words alone cannot ·correct [instruct] a servant,
because even if they understand, they won’t respond.
20 Do you see people who speak too ·quickly [hastily]?
There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.
21 If you ·spoil [pamper] your servants when they are young,
they will bring you ·grief [trouble] later on.
22 An angry person ·causes trouble [stirs up conflict];
a person with ·a quick temper [wrath] sins a lot.
23 Pride will ·ruin people [cause people to fall],
but ·those who are humble will be honored [a lowly spirit holds honor/glory tight].
24 ·Partners of [L Those who divide plunder with] thieves ·are their own worst enemies [L hate their lives/themselves].
If they ·have to testify in court [L hear a curse], they ·are afraid to [L do not] say anything.
25 ·Being afraid of [Anxiety about] people ·can get you into trouble [L is a trap],
but if you trust the Lord, you will be ·safe [protected; Ps. 56:11; 1 John 4:18].
26 Many people want ·to speak to [an audience with] a ruler,
but justice comes only from the Lord.
27 ·Good [Righteous] people ·hate [detest] ·those who are dishonest [the unjust],
and the wicked ·hate [detest] ·those who are honest [L the straight path].
Paul Defends His Ministry
10 I, Paul, ·am begging [urge; appeal to] you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. ·Some people say that I am [L …—I who am; C Paul is answering an accusation; see v. 10] ·easy on you [lenient; or timid] when I am with you and bold when I am away [C Paul here confronts those still resisting his authority]. 2 I ·beg [ask] you that when I ·come [am present] I will not need to use that same boldness with you that I expect to use with those who ·think [or claim] we ·live [walk] ·in a worldly way [by the world’s standards; L according to the flesh]. 3 [L For] Although we ·live in the world [L walk in the flesh], we do not ·fight [wage war] ·in the same way the world fights [L according to the flesh]. 4 We fight with weapons that are ·different from those the world uses [not merely human weapons; L not of the flesh]. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy ·the enemy’s strong places [L strongholds; fortresses]. We destroy ·people’s arguments [human reasoning; sophistries] 5 and every ·proud thing [pretension; exalted opinion; L high thing] that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it obey Christ. 6 We are ready to ·punish [avenge] ·anyone there who does not obey [L every disobedience], ·but first we want you to obey fully [L once/after your obedience is fulfilled; C once the church as a whole repents, Paul will discipline those who refuse].
7 You ·must look at the facts before you [or are looking only at outward appearances]. If you ·feel sure [are confident] that you belong to Christ, you must ·remember [consider again] that we belong to Christ just as you do. 8 ·It is true that we brag freely [L If I boast too much…] about the authority the Lord gave us. But this authority is to build you up, not to tear you down. So I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want you to think I am trying to scare you with my letters. 10 Some people say [v. 1], “Paul’s letters are ·powerful [forceful] and ·sound important [weighty; or demanding], but ·when he is with us, he [his physical presence] is weak. And his ·speaking is nothing [speaking skills are deplorable; or speeches are worthless; C Greek culture highly valued rhetorical skill].” 11 They should ·know [consider] this: ·The authority we show by letter [L What we are in word] while we are ·away [absent], we will ·demonstrate in our actions [L be in deed] when we ·come to you [L are present].
12 [L For] We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with those who ·think they are very important [commend/promote themselves; 3:1]. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are. ·This shows that they know nothing [or What ignorance!; or What fools!]. 13 But we will not ·brag [boast] ·about things outside the work that was given us to do [L beyond the limits]. We will limit our ·bragging [boasting] to the ·work [sphere of ministry] that God gave us, ·and this includes our work with you [L which reaches even to you]. 14 [L For] We are not ·bragging too much [or going beyond our commission; L overreaching/overextending ourselves], as we would be if we had not already come to you. But we have come to you with the Good News of Christ [C Paul’s opponents claimed the Corinthians were their sphere of ministry; Paul counters that he first brought the Gospel to Corinth (Acts 18)]. 15 We limit our ·bragging [boasting] to the work that is ours, not what others have done. We hope that as your faith continues to grow, ·the scope of our work among you will greatly increase [or our work among you will greatly increase within the sphere/limits God has given us]. 16 ·We want to [L …so that we may] ·tell the Good News [preach the Gospel] in the areas beyond ·your city [L you]. We do not want to ·brag [boast] about work that has already been done in another person’s area. 17 But, “·If people want to brag, they should brag only [L Let the one who boasts, boast] about the Lord [Jer. 9:24; 1 Cor. 1:31].” 18 [L For] It is not those who ·say they are good [L commend/promote themselves; v. 12] who are ·accepted [approved] but those the Lord ·thinks are good [commends].
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